Reserves, Pujols, Mulder Combine For Win In San Diego

The Cardinals may have four of their eight position starters on the disabled list, but their bench is pretty good and the starters who aren’t hurt aren’t bad either. Back up catcher Einar Diaz and reserve outfielder So Taguchi drove in a run apiece, John Gall was 2-for-4 with two runs in his major league debut and Albert Pujols blasted his 27th home run in a 4-2 win over the Padres in San Diego.

With former Cardinals pitcher Woody Williams (5-7) on the mound, St. Louis got on the board in the second inning when Diaz grounded into a double play that scored Gall. Pujols made it 2-0, St. Louis, with a solo home run in the sixth inning. That started a three-run rally. Taguchi singled in Gall and Diaz sacrificed to score mark Grudzielanek and the Cardinals led 4-0.

Cardinals starter Mark Mulder was cruising along until the sixth inning when he allowed four-straight hits, which led to the Padres only runs of the game. Khalil Greene drove in a run with a single and Damian Jackson grounded out to second to score Xavier Nady. Mulder (12-5) was later pulled with two outs in the inning, but still got the win.

Jason Isringhausen walked a man in the ninth inning, but still earned his 28th win of the season.